WHAP Essay #1 When comparing and contrasting the influence of China on Southeast Asia, We notice that the surrounding countries all were influenced in some manner by the political, religious, and social developments of china. Both Korea and Japan were influenced by China's political structure and methods; however, they each grasped this influence and utilized them in similar, but different ways. When Confucianism and Buddhism diffused out of China, Korea and Japan accepted them differently. Lastly, the society of both Japan and Korea differed in vastly different aspects. Korea and Japan observed the political systems of China, particularly the T'ang Dynasty and its court, and applied them in different ways to their own cultures.
They isolated themselves from other countries; but after their imperialisms in the late 1800s, the countries went on different paths. China remained traditional and denied modernization and suffered because of it, while Japan emulated the imperial powers and became an imperial power themselves. Before the early 1700s and the late 1800s, China was a leading nation. China was fairly strong during earlier periods of history. It had a strong and peaceful government during the Qing Empire and imperial powers such as Britain and the U.S. were interested in Chinese goods.
What is a barbarian? Each culture possesses its own definition, and the usual answer starts where the culture’s territory and ethnicity or ethnicities end. In other words, barbarian usually meant for one culture any other culture that seemed to be inferior in the slightest regard. A curious era in East Asian history, however, occurred when the peoples of Japan, Korea, and Indo-China held Chinese civilization in such high regard that their definition of barbarian meant “unlike the Chinese.” After centuries of contact with China, these cultures had attained a level of sophistication of trade, technology, social and political organization, and even philosophical and religious ideas that proved they viewed China as the best model. That is not to say that any of China’s neighbors in East Asia liked being dominated by China.
The Chinese Open Door Policy was a major event in recent Chinese history, because The Open Door Policy that was argued for by John Hay’s Open Door Notes, advocated an impartial system of taxation to set up a system of equal trading rights, and prevented European nations from carving China into separate colonies. Although the Open Door Notes was not written with Chinese interests at heart, it greatly benefited China in the long run. The Open Door Notes was a very influential document in Chinese history. Written at the turn of the century by Secretary of State, John Hay, the Open Door Notes was a letter that was sent to all nations with interests in China. After acquiring the Philippines, the United States gained interest in the vast resources of Asia.
Professor Roger Ames began his lecture by speaking of the misconceptions that Americans have about the Chinese. Usually the Chinese culture is either romanticized or demonized. China and America are both are powerful countries and Ames spoke of the fact that if they do not join peacefully they are stunting the possibilities they have to change the course of the world. Ames spoke a lot about the focus on competition, a winner, loser, and every situation. Whereas Confucius would focus more on flourishing relationships and being respectful and loving all.
Compare and Contrast- India & China Imperial Administration Thesis While both Han China & Gupta India had imperial administration there were some similarities and differences between the two civilizations. Similarities include, both of the civilizations flourished during this classical period of their history in various ways. Differences include, Han China had a bigger role in political theory than Gupta India. Unlike Han China, Gupta India did not place as much emphasis on political theory. The importance of politics in China can be shown because, in order to live a good life you need to be part of the society, politics in India did not develop because of the structures implanted in the caste system, (regional political units were often highlighted).
On the class lecturer, we have learned the virtues of Confucius. The idea what Tu Wei-Ming mentioned about in the interview is similar to the “Ren/Benevolence”. This is probably best expressed in the Golden Rule: Do not do to others what you do not wish yourself. The most interesting I have learned from this interview is what kind of message did Tiananmen Massacre bring to us. How to use Confucian ideas of ethics to develop a stable society has been the concern of those who are power in East Asia.
To achieve Moksha, a person would have to be born into the higher castes until they were in the highest one. Buddhism on the other hand was not so strict with their caste system and was not as enforced as much. A third difference is that Hinduism thought that some animals were sacred while Buddhism had different ideas. Lastly, another difference was that over the years each religion existed, Buddhism spread among other countries and areas, while Hinduism generally stayed put and was contained mostly in India. Buddhism spread into many other countries and Hinduism did not because of two main reason.
Japan however, never succeeded in creating an effective centralized and bureaucratic state to match that of China but they did try to borrow that idea from China and produced it to the best of their ability. China was a major state during the period of 600-1450, therefore many of their ideas, recourses and culture were borrowed by many other states. Because of the fact that many borrowed from China, the state also became greater. Southeast Asia and Japan were two that borrowed heavily from Chinese culture. They borrowed their rituals, religions and
Chinese rulers started to isolate themselves for other countries in order to stop westernization and promote their former cultures and traditions. Trade was then limited and technology didn’t become more advanced, therefore changing the success of their economy. Advances in technologies promoted trade with other countries and with far away societies. Maritime traded provided the Chinese economy the ability to trade with local societies easier and farther away countries faster. During the Sui dynasty, the Grand Canal was built and it was a waterway that connected Northern china to Southern China.